Monday, November 07, 2005

eClare in hospital with cat bites

Hi guys, this is a quick post to let everyone know the site will be quiet for a little while as Clare is in hospital with some nasty infected cat bites, not to be confused with "Cat Scratch Fever", which I believe refers to a feverish self limiting disease.

The story begins as we were getting in the car to leave for a long weekend at my friend's wedding at Junee, in country New South Wales. Just as we got into the car a dog came out of no-where and attacked Clare and Kiri (who was in her arms). Kiri totally freaked out, and instinctively went on the attack, biting clare multiple times on both arms. Clare was rushed to hospital with 32 punchure wounds from Kiri's teeth and claws. Luckily Kiri's claws had been clipped that day so nearly all the damage was from his teeth.

Her right arm became badly infected and it is all puffy. Today is Monday, and she has been on IV antibiotics since Friday and is progressing well now. Hopefully she will be able to come home in a couple of days. Some people are telling us to put the cat down, but we won't have it. It was completely the dog's fault, which was running around un-leashed and who's owner was riding past on a push bike and did not stop.

We never got to the wedding on Saturday, so congrats to Lachlan and Emma Cook, my mates from HIgh School and Uni.

I will pass on any messages for Clare, and have access to a colour printer if you want to send on any eCards.... Casey

Oh no, Clare! I'm so sorry about this and hope you're home and feeling better soon. Maybe my package will get there soon and it can be a Get Well Soon gift! Looking forward to your speedy return. It's just not the same without you. :)

Ow, ow, owwww! I'm so sorry to hear this Clare! Hope you'll feel better soon - and Kiri, too. It must have been a really, really scary moment for him. :( I had just ONE cat bite a few months ago, and it hurt like.. yeah, you'll know by now. Hope you heal up quickly!!

Hi Clare, Im very sorry to hear that you have been hurt! I wish you all the best for a speedy recovery. And you know, people sometimes forget that pets are animals. Kiri's instinct was to get the hell out of there, and since you were holding him, he did what he could to get you to let go of him. So ignore the people who are telling you to put him down, pets aren't quite so disposable. In any case, we eagerly await your return, my thoughts are with you!

Oh Clare, I don't know what to say. Tears are streaming down my face. Sending you the biggest, bestest e-hug I can, and lots and lots of healing thoughts. I bet they won't even let Kiri visit you in hospital. : )xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxfg

Oh No what a horrible things to happen! I cant believe people would suggest putting Kiri down either, they obviously have no idea he would never do that in normal circumstances. Best for a speedy recovery Clare, we are thinking of you here in cheese land. take care :)

Clare I hope that you feel better soon. I know this must have been a shock to everyone involved. Take your time recovering and give Kiri some time to recover from his trauma too. I am sure he was just as freaked out as you were. We are all thinking positive thoughts for you and hope you have a speedy recovery.

No, mustn't put Kiri down. Poor fella was only trying to defend himself from the scary dog. Instinct took over - pure and simple. Now I am sure he misses his Clare dreadfully and doesn't understand why she's not home.

So sorry this has happened!! What I wish I could do to irresponsible pet owners...such as the likes of whoever owned that dog! Take care of yourself and take it easy...best wishes to you in the meantime!

Oh no! Poor Clare and Kiri. Please get well soon, and don't listen to those insensitive, ignorant freaks suggesting to put Kiri down. He was simply frightened and acted as any cat would. Ugh-I can't stand people who don't understand animals' natural instincts. Take care of yourself Clare and get well soon!

Clare, this is distressing news! Having a new furling of my own, I know how sharp those little claws and teeth can be when they are just playing--they are really painful when they're scared. More good thoughts coming your way.

I say Kiri needs two new outfits: one doctor's whites so she can come visit you in the hospital, and another as an animal control officer so she can go take care of the dog. *grin*

My sis's cat did this same thing to her too. She was holding him and a firecracker went off and he freaked and clawed her face. ppl said the same thing to her about putting him down, but she knew it wasnt his fault.

I don't drop by much, but I'm enormously moved by the outpouring of love. I send mine, too.I especially want to thank Casey for the updates. Word, dude.Best wishes to Clare. And: Bad Kiri!! But you are totally forgiven.Be well, Clare.xxcc

Thank you all for your wonderful comments. I will be printing all of them and related links and emails and take them to her in hospital, which we were shocked to learn doesnt have broadband internet or wifi *grin*

I saw her last night, and her arm is not quite as swollen so it looks like she is on the mend, but she will still need more time in hospital.

Hi Claresorry I didn't write sooner, I have been travelling with limited internet access and only just stumbled across the news of your accident. I am so sorry this happened to you, it sounds horrific, especially as it happened with Kiri and I know you both love each other so much. I hope you and Kiri are both feeling better soon. I am sorry you had to miss the wedding as well. I am sure that with Casey nursing you and all these virtual good wishes you will be on the road to good recovery in no time.Lots of love,Sam

(PS I was staying in a Parisian appt with no less than 7 cats yesterday and I was telling their owner about your cat blogging, so I was thinking of you before I even knew what had happened Here is a picture of one of them for you)

Clare - Hugs, love and best wishes from emma, Wellington the gourmand and Maggie the corgi in Tennessee, US -- we are all sending lots of love and good thoughts your way...and we hope you are home very soon!

Dear Clare, I have never commented on you blog before but have just stumbled over the note at sweetnicks. All our best wishes to you for a quick recovery !Gino my Golden Retriever injured me during a little fight when he was 1 year old and though it was not an accident but in this very second he did it on purpose I would have never put him down ! Both of us learned from this experience - and it meant a huge step for mutual understanding. I can understand you and I hope that you will be back soon - also to pet your kiri. What would life be without our animals. All best wishes, angelika

Hi Clare,Just me, stopping by to feel a little closer to you. It's wonderful to read all the caring comments. And Casey, thank you so much for the updates. I hope somebody is feeding you well during all this. : )

Oh, Clare,I am Susan's friend, a.k.a. "BB." How dreadful. People like this jerk should be put in prison and attacked by a rabid dog! They not only hurt others, but give all dog owners a bad name. I hope you can sue this horrible, ignorant person.

Ouch! I'm so sorry to hear about this, but hope you're already on your way to a speedy recovery! We're just on the subject of bites and infections in school at the moment - can I just say ouch again! My thoughts are with you and Kiri...

Clare, oh my, you poor thing! I am thinking lots of happy thoughts for you and for Kiri (poor kitty! BAD dog!) and know you will feel better soon. Perhaps then you can come home to a fabulous chocolate treat of some sort? I know that's what I'd want...

And, I hope Kiri is okay and not too traumatized, though I am sure he misses you and doesn't know why you are gone.

As for the ignorant people who said you should put Kiri down--well, I have nothing nice to say about that, as you could imagine. They probably don't even understand how insensitive they are being to you right now--forgive them for they know not what they say.

My kitties and I are sending love and healing thoughts to you and Kiri.

Dear Clare, Casey and Kiri,I am a regular fan of your blog and Kiri, a dedicated cat lover, and just feel so terrible about what has happened to all of you. Sending you lots of wishes for a quick recovery. Poor Kiri...what a terrifying thing to experience. If it were me, I would be most anxiously awaiting the moment when I could go home and give my little furry friend a big hug and lots of pats. A deicated food and cat lover from Cape Cod, Massachusetts,Kitty

Just a bit more love and a few more hugs and licks and purrs from Wellie and Maggie, who also want Kiri to know that they hope he gets his owner back soon - they know he misses you and wants to help you feel better! Wellie says he would be happy to come to Australia to keep Kiri company - he has heard that there are big waves there and he adores water. Maggie thinks it's a bit far but sends a paw and a lick instead (oh, and a milk bone if you or Kiri want one).

That's awful! I'm so sorry to hear about this, Clare. I hate thinking of you being hurt and Kiri being so traumatised. Whoever suggested putting Kiri down is just plain *&%$#@ stupid and insensitive. If I were in your position I would rather be the collateral damage from my babies' defensive attack than have any dog hurt them. Hope you recover soon and hope Kiri is ok too.

Hi Clare...I've never posted on your site before, but come here via Farmgirls site. I have checked out your weekend cat blogging, and think it is absolutely wonderful! I am horrified that your cat was so frightened that he hurt you, but clearly, it was unintentional. It sounds like you and your cat had different ideas of how to react. Yours to protect, his to flee. It's nobody's fault, and Kiri is probably missing you like crazy!Wishing you well from Toronto, CanadaSpeedy Recovery!

Hi Clare, Hope those scratches heal soon and that you get over the shock.Kiri must be in a state too.She must have been frightened out of her wits poor thing.People are crazy to suggest that she be put down.From Goa, India (right now)Get well soon and get back to post us all from your blog.

Farmgirl and I discussed - we will be joint hosting WCB this weekend, a very special one for Clare and Kiri to get well soon.

Announcements will be up tomorrow evening (sydney time) or tomorrow morning (usa time) on our blogs. For the rest of you regular WCBers plus whoever wishes to join us, you can send get well greetings, flowers, chocolate and anything else you can think of to cheer Clare and Kiri up. More info on our blogs tomorrow.

Clare,Oh My God! My best wishes to you and Kiri. I have been injured by a cat bad enough to see a doctor, and was told how dangerous it was but I never knew how bad it could be. Much admiration for you for sticking it out in order to protect Kiri. Of course you would never put him down. How absurd.

It's Thursday here now, Clare's worst arm is much less swollen now. IV antibiotics seem to be working well now, but progress was obviosuly slower than we had all hoped. They are saying that she could get out of hospital tonight, or maybe tommorow, so I am very relieved.

Thanks again to everyone for the AMAZING eCompassion. I have taken the first half of these comments to clare and she has read them over and over and over. Hospital food in Australia is reeeaallly bad. I tasted some of her pumpkin and it tasted like it had been steamed for 5 days... totally tasteless.

I was shocked when I read about this on farmgirl's blog and then amazed when I saw the the responses!! I am horribly sorry that this has happened. Wishing you good thoughts.Casey are you sneaking her some treats?

Q U E B E C C I T Y, Canada, July 13 — An elderly Canadian man was recovering Thursday following a savage attack by his pet cat, which drew four carloads of police, two ambulances and an animal control officer.

Gerard Daigle, 80, lost a pint of blood and required stitches after his cat Touti, a diminutive roughly meaning Tiny, launched a frenzied attack after Daigle, who was giving his pet parrot a shower, inadvertently sprayed the cat with water.

"I have never seen anything like this in all my career," said Guy Theriault, an animal control officer at the Society for the Protection of Animals in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, half way between Montreal and Quebec City.

"It was a real carnage: there was blood all over the place — on the the ceiling, the floor and the walls. The cat was really traumatized by the water," Theriault added.

Cat Had a 'Troubled Past'

He said the cat has since been euthanized and had had a troubled past.

Daigle, who lives in Trois-Rivieres, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

The animal control officer said Daigle was saved by his 81-year-old wife who wrestled the cat away, only to have it turn on her.

"The cat wanted to eat her, too," one newspaper quoted Daigle as saying.

The couple managed to chase the cat into the bedroom and slam the door. Police responded in force because they thought they were dealing with a domestic emergency.

Hello Clare, Casey and Kiri --Seems I am not the only who's checked in to see if there are any updates! Hope Clare is healing and returning home soon. I know everyone has missed you dreadfully. Am looking forward to reading about Kiri and trying out interesting recipes -- for example that refreshing one you posted right before the fateful weekend started.Please update all of us as soon as you comfortably can! In the mean time -- everyone will be keeping you in healing thoughts and prayer! *Huggles from Texas, USA*

Where is Auntie Clare and Kiri? I hope they are well as I miss them. This weekend, lots and lots and lots of kitties want to see them, brought them flowers, cake, s'more treats, hearts and etc to make them feel better.

Clare, Iknow exactly how you feel my 3 year old female cat Evie escaped frome the house last night.I knew she was going into heat but I never thought she would hurt me.She had been outside once before when she was 6 months and came home pregnant, I didn't want that again.She had been out for about 15min. when I finally got her but she was scared and freaked out on me and bit me and scratched me about 15-20 times put me in hospital.They gave me a perscription for antibiotics and sent me on my way.Hope you feel better.